The L-O-S-T in T-SPLOST refers to public trust
There’s a saying for politicians and for those of us who cover them: The voters are always right. While we’re bound to be subjected to a round or two of recriminations about who’s to blame for the absolute debacle that was the metro Atlanta T-SPLOST campaign, pay attention to those who show signs of understanding and accepting that saying. They’re the ones who will be most likely to find the way forward from here.
For my part, here’s what I think the voters were saying in their 63-37 defeat of the $7.2 billion tax.
The political class has lost our trust.
If that sounds obvious, consider that it’s also a puzzling situation, given that many of the same people who voted overwhelmingly against the T-SPLOST have been voting in large numbers to elect the same Republican politicians who gave us the T-SPLOST. I think there’s a pretty clear explanation: This is the consequence of having a one-party state.
Georgia has been a one-party state for pretty much 140 years now. The first 130 years, it was a one-party state ruled by Democrats. The past 10 years, it’s been a one-party state ruled by Republicans and Democrats-turned-Republicans. (Note: I am referring here only to the party holding the levers at the state level, not municipal or federal offices.) For most of those 140 years, there has been very little credible, effective opposition from the minority party. I’m sure it was worse for the Republicans at times between Reconstruction and Sonny Perdue’s watershed win in 2002, but the situation is pretty bleak right now for Georgia Democrats. And that means Georgia Republicans feel very little electoral heat, which leads them to act in a very insular way.
That’s played out no more clearly than in their attitude toward ethics: If legislators are wise, they’ll recognize that the lack of public trust on display in the T-SPLOST vote means they can’t very well ignore the support of 87 percent of GOP voters for a lengthening of the proverbial arm separating lobbyists from legislators. If I heard one voter say he thought T-SPLOST was all about rewarding political contributors and allies, I heard it from dozens of voters. Legislators cannot go too far in trying to improve the negative public perception around our lawmaking process.
Geographically, at least as it relates to the T-SPLOST, you can locate the center of that lack of trust along the Ga. 400 corridor. Perdue arguably lost Tuesday’s tax vote two years ago when he reneged on the longstanding promise to end the toll when the original bonds were paid off. An opinion poll conducted for the AJC, published last weekend, showed the 400 toll extension was a factor for 55 percent of voters — and that 64 percent of voters doubted the T-SPLOST would end when promised and be limited to the projects on the list.
Nathan Deal obviously thought he could show some good faith by announcing recently that the tolls would come down by the end of next year, fulfilling one of his campaign promises. But the AJC’s opinion poll showed the maneuver actually made voters less likely to vote for the T-SPLOST by a net 6 percentage points. The reason, in my view, is that it sends a signal that state government decides when and how to make these decisions on purely political considerations. Bad political considerations, it now appears.
There are a couple of ways for elected officials to show they understand this message. First and foremost, they must demonstrate clearly that all available transportation money is being spent as wisely and efficiently as possible.
That means showing transportation spending really is a priority for the state. All revenues from the motor fuel tax should be directed to transportation; currently, part of it goes to the general fund. When the inflation-driven formula for the motor fuel tax dictates that the rate should rise to keep spending level in real terms, state government should let it rise. Where money can be cut from lesser priorities and redirected to transportation infrastructure, it should be cut and redirected.
As for efficiency, the state needs to be much more transparent about which projects are priorities based on pure cost-benefit analysis, and begin spending the money we do have on the highest-rated projects. If that means re-examining the wisdom of balancing spending based on congressional districts — they might be equal in population, but they aren’t necessarily equal in terms of transportation needs — so be it.
The money I’ve talked about so far would probably be skewed toward roads rather than mass transit, if only because a constitutional amendment allowing gas-tax revenues to fund transit looks like a sure loser. Transit should be addressed in a two-step manner: First, create a truly regional (if not state-run) governance structure for mass transit in metro Atlanta that incorporates MARTA and the other transit agencies. Second, allow voters beyond Fulton and DeKalb to vote in a referendum to participate in the system, with specific descriptions of the infrastructure and services that would come with it. If they want to join, let them join the same way Fulton and DeKalb joined MARTA.
If some of that sounds like baby steps, well, that’s because they are. One of these days, the people who run our government — at the local, state and federal levels — are going to realize a little modesty on their part would go a long way toward re-establishing the public trust they’ve clearly lost.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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1,018 comments Add your comment
Brosephus™
August 1st, 2012
6:48 pm
Doom
I used to hang out over there. I stayed in Capitol Heights for a while, so I can’t talk much.
Nigeria’s already had quite a few incidents. The initial powder kegs have blown, but there may be secondary blow ups. I had a friend who got caught up in an incident between Muslims and Christians over there. They’re gunning people down in the streets. You just don’t hear much about it over here. Nothing makes the news here until they blow an oil pipeline or something.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
6:48 pm
“Be great if he can get it going and make the NFL.”
Crowell is an overrated player. Period.
They BOTH suck
August 1st, 2012
6:48 pm
Gmare
Say what you have to say. An IT recruiter is not qualified to say what gays are or want to be, unless he is one.
Thanks and hang tough
Thulsa Doom
August 1st, 2012
6:48 pm
TBS and Brocephus,
I follow recruiting a little bit since I bet so much on college football and with heralded 5 star recruits like Crowell its the same story every year. Half of them get it,have their heads screwed on straight, and turn out to be the real deal. Trent Richardson is a case in point- great character kid, incredible work ethic, great persona about that young man. Crowell is the opposite so far. Lack of a work ethic, somewhat of a prima donna, found out going against college guys is a little different and you can’t get by on just talent alone. Take the top 10 guys in the country and there’s always 3 or 4 of them that wash out due to narcissism and being pampered all their lives. The rest usually make it and make it big time. Nice to see Trent Richardson GETTING PAID!!!! It remains to be seen what will happen with Crowell but from what I’ve seen he just doesn’t have the great character intangibles that Trent has.
They BOTH suck
August 1st, 2012
6:49 pm
I report
have a tissue
getalife
August 1st, 2012
6:49 pm
“I don’t know who Andy is”
He is the guy that hates everyone and calls me gitmo .
josef
August 1st, 2012
6:50 pm
BROSEPHUS
Nigeria is a tinderbox…the Biafrans were right, imauo. And the al Qaaeda faction is gaining ground rapidly in Syria, it seems…the Alawi, Druze, Christians and Shia appear to be sitting ducks if something doesn’t happen and quick. The Kurds, though, are doing their thing there like in Iraq…so, there is some good news coming out of that debacle..
They BOTH suck
August 1st, 2012
6:51 pm
TD
To date you are correct, but like any young kid, he can turn it around if he works at it. Hopefully AL State will be the catalyst he needs to get it going.
Thulsa Doom
August 1st, 2012
6:52 pm
Brocephus,
The one girl I almost married grew up in Capital Heights. Not a bad area either. Just kinda old is all. If you read the paper regularly you do read about small incidences in Nigeria and flare ups here and there but I didn’t know it had gotten to regular gunning down incidences in the streets. Its a powder keg sho enough.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 1st, 2012
6:54 pm
yosef- Good commentary. You are absolutely correct. The Kurds are going to carry that whole country, on the shoulders, if they have to. Notice how al Qaeda doesn’t attack them? They would get their a$$ kicked if they did.
md
August 1st, 2012
6:54 pm
I “strongly dislike” (hate is too strong) Bama, but that kid benching 600 lbs is a beast……..
@@
August 1st, 2012
6:54 pm
josef:
The only thing I can find on the Rabbi in Amsterdam is at gay sites. Seems he made the mistake of saying gays could be converted. For that, he was suspended.
Lead by example? Can’t do that from your sanctuary.
(ISH)
Brosephus™
August 1st, 2012
6:54 pm
They BOTH
Can’t argue with that. Sometimes, you’ve gotta leave the homies behind.
BADA BING
August 1st, 2012
6:54 pm
Henceforth CFA waffle fries will be known as Religious Freedom Fries.I ordered a CFA sandwich with a side order of revenge, best served cold.
josef
August 1st, 2012
6:55 pm
BOTH
Are you saying some folks can’t hold their likker…
Not So Casual Observer
August 1st, 2012
6:55 pm
The most telling comment last night came from the Chairman of the Committee that created the list of projects.
Mayor Bucky Johnson, of Norcross, stated, “I can’t think of one thing we would do differently”. We must elect some of the least talented, short-sighted, unimaginative people to ever hold public office – well, at least Norcross does!
getalife
August 1st, 2012
6:55 pm
The big bombs hitting Syria’s military are our covert operations.
China 30 medals.
USA 29 medals.
Go USA!
kayaker 71
August 1st, 2012
6:56 pm
Great to see that Chick-fil-a has gleaned all of the support of the Atlanta community. Cars backed up on the interstate waiting to enter the drive thru. Rosie O’Donnell can shove it.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 1st, 2012
6:56 pm
The Kurds don’t mess around. You won’t catch them kowtowing to the enemy, like obozo, for instance. They’re like Bush/Cheney.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 1st, 2012
6:57 pm
Yeah, gitmo, we know, We’re supplying al Qaeda and you do not see the problem.
They BOTH suck
August 1st, 2012
6:57 pm
josef
Brosephus™
August 1st, 2012
6:58 pm
Doom
Let’s just say that we’re probably going to have an influx of asylum cases from Nigeria in the future.
—————
josef
I don’t think there’s been a definitive link between AQ and Boko Haram, but the similarities are there. I’ve talked to people first hand about the different nationalities present there which receive little notice outside of security circles.
BADA BING
August 1st, 2012
6:59 pm
Why did the chicken cross the road?
To eat at the CFA on Wednesday, 8/1.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
6:59 pm
“He is the guy that hates everyone and calls me gitmo .”
Gitmo = hilarious. Doubt he hates everyone.
josef
August 1st, 2012
6:59 pm
@ @
I’ll have to go digging on that…I was just wondering what “brand” he is…we’ve got our Taliaban, too!
As for leading…we put in our time back in the immediate post Stonewall days…we’re retired now and have left it to the younguns… LOL
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
7:00 pm
“Go USA!”
Surprised you’re not cheering for Cuba or Russia.
Not So Casual Observer
August 1st, 2012
7:00 pm
Another attempt at demonizing a business by the GLBT community and their cohorts in the media has failed. Hopefully this is simply the beginning of the end for groups who have an unpopular agenda but claim a superiority in thought that is unfounded and based upon an odd definition of “hate”.
To the GLBT community if you disagree with their positions then you “hate” them. Sort of sounds like the Obama backers who claim anyone who disagrees with their ignorant, socialist leader is a racist.
getalife
August 1st, 2012
7:00 pm
Go to chick fila and order a hate sandwich with some bigotry fries.
iggy
August 1st, 2012
7:02 pm
World News with Diane Segway? I think not. Exploiting local news storys with Diane Segway? I think so.
iggy
August 1st, 2012
7:03 pm
“Go to chick fila and order a hate sandwich with some bigotry fries.”
I did and as it turns out they are DELICIOUS!!
getalife
August 1st, 2012
7:03 pm
Logic,
I am a proud Independent with no party or ideology.
I support our President cleaning up the gop mess.
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
7:04 pm
“Go to chick fila and order a hate sandwich with some bigotry fries.”
Whatever you hate, I like. I’ll go there 3 times a day if it means you don’t like it.
They BOTH suck
August 1st, 2012
7:04 pm
Not so Casual
Why no mention of the conservative leaning American Family Association that has active boycotts against numerous companies for offering domestic partner benefits?
I see them boycotting as no problem. They are well within their rights as are those who have decided to forgo Chickfila.
I do not recall companies such as Delta, Home Depot, Coca Cola breaking any laws by offering those benefits just like the Cathys / Chickfila broke no law by expressing their views.
So are you for or against the AFA boycotts?
Logic was never intended for libs
August 1st, 2012
7:04 pm
“I am a proud Independent with no party or ideology.”
Flat out lie.
josef
August 1st, 2012
7:04 pm
BROSEPHUS
Boko Haram does seem to be an indigenous pack of wack-os…they’re too loony even for al Qaeeda from what I gather. That seems to be the evaluation of most of my Nigerian colleagues, Muslim and Christian alike…
WHINER
The Kurds are a truly interesting lot…I like ‘em…
Jm
August 1st, 2012
7:05 pm
L-O-S-T refers to Atlanta’s future
And Atlanta’s marbles
kayaker 71
August 1st, 2012
7:05 pm
getalife, 7:00,
That statement probably wins the trophy for the most stupid and ignorant comment made to date.
Thulsa Doom
August 1st, 2012
7:05 pm
“Let’s just say that we’re probably going to have an influx of asylum cases from Nigeria in the future.”
Bro,
Bring em. The ones I’ve known are good, hard working people. The only thing is I hope all the good people don’t try to just up and leave and let despotic Muslim terrorists take over.
getalife
August 1st, 2012
7:06 pm
chick fila’s business plunged so you cons need to eat there everyday.
You are already fat and lazy so one day is all you got.
Thulsa Doom
August 1st, 2012
7:06 pm
getalife
August 1st, 2012
7:00 pm
Go to chick fila and order a hate sandwich with some bigotry fries.
I have to admit. This one was funny and gave me a good chuckle.
Numbers-R-US
August 1st, 2012
7:06 pm
“Another thing that money can’t buy is culture.” – Mitt
Del
August 1st, 2012
7:06 pm
Say what you have to say. An IT recruiter is not qualified to say what gays are or want to be, unless he is one.
Thanks and hang tough
Well now if you’re directing that feckless comment at me without the stones to address it directly, I’ll enlighten you. “I.T. recruiter”, I built the business and owned it after a long sales and marketing career that included management positions in Fortune 500 companies. I did well financially and I’m not ashamed of my success or do I begrudge the success of others. Additionally, I don’t I find it necessary to curry favor with fellow bloggers who agree with my views by telling them to “hang tough” because most of my fellow conservative bloggers can do so without my encouragement. That’s in sharp contrast with most of the group think left, which evidently includes you. Carry on.
Jm
August 1st, 2012
7:07 pm
How’s it feel Kyle?
No alternative plan. Just a: make do with what we got
Atlantans are retarded. It’s all the yanks and halfbacks I guess.
iggy
August 1st, 2012
7:07 pm
I hope the LGBT will bring their wallets to CFA Friday and put some more cash in Cathys pocket.
They BOTH suck
August 1st, 2012
7:08 pm
TD and Bruno
A few months ago, I read a story in Mens Journal about Lagos. Basically one of their writers went over and spent a few weeks there. Pretty crazy. Might be able to find the story on line. An interesting read to say the least.
Jm
August 1st, 2012
7:08 pm
Atlanta: no resurgens
getalife
August 1st, 2012
7:09 pm
kayaker,
I don’t even bother to read your crap.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 1st, 2012
7:10 pm
Maybe you libs could stage a North American Man Boy Love Association appreciation day, although I’m not sure that it would garner the same response as Chick-fila-A.
They BOTH suck
August 1st, 2012
7:10 pm
Have another drink. Hopefully it is top shelf
And no you do not have the background to say what gays are or want to be even if you built a business.
So hang tough………
Come out of that closet
Erwin's cat
August 1st, 2012
7:11 pm
iggy I thought the rhetoric sauce was great on the hate and for dipping the bigotry